September 25, 2025, 11:31 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Almost everyone knows Mickey Mouse, the iconic cartoon character from Disney. For nearly 100 years, it has brought joy to fans of all ages and profits to the company. But now, a firm has filed a lawsuit against Disney over Mickey Mouse.
Law Firm Sues Over Depiction of Old Mickey Mouse
As reported by the U.S. trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter, the case specifically involves the 1928 animated short film “Steamboat Willie.” This was the first appearance of Mickey Mouse and his friend Minnie Mouse. Over the following decades, Mickey became the mascot of the Disney corporation and underwent several design changes.
“Steamboat Willie” is unsurprisingly available on Disney+. Those without a subscription can sign up below:
However, because the earliest depiction of Mickey Mouse from the short film is so old, it entered the public domain in 2024. This means the copyright has expired. Since then, others have been able to use the early Mickey Mouse for their own commercial and artistic purposes without needing Disney’s explicit permission. This has already happened several times, such as with the horror film “Screamboat.”
The law firm Morgan & Morgan also did this for a commercial. However, according to their own statements, Disney’s legal department took action against it. As a result, the firm filed a lawsuit. They want a court ruling that the advertisement does not infringe on the so-called Mouse Company’s rights.
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The short clip shows a scene from “Steamboat Willie.” Mickey Mouse is steering his boat but accidentally hits Minnie’s car. To resolve the accident, she calls the law firm–on a smartphone, of course. The entire video is styled like the original, with clear indications that Disney was not involved in any way.
In the lawsuit, Morgan & Morgan mentions Disney’s repeatedly “aggressive” actions to protect its own intellectual property. Furthermore, they accuse the company of not announcing legal action against the use of “Steamboat Willie” in advance.
To support their arguments, they also refer to a recent legal dispute against the jewelry manufacturer Satéur, which also used the old Mickey Mouse for its products. Disney intervened there as well, with moral support from disappointed fans due to the poor quality of the jewelry. However, the argumentation here is of particular interest.
Copyright vs. Trademark Law
In the case against Satéur, Disney acknowledged that the copyright for “Steamboat Willie” had expired. However, trademark law was unaffected. Copyright protects creative works like films, songs, or images, while trademark law protects identifiers like company logos, slogans, or names. Disney saw its trademark rights to Mickey Mouse as violated and emphasized that the character would remain an important symbol for the company in the future–independent of the copyright status of the 1928 cartoon.
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It is unclear whether Disney will also argue with trademark law in the Morgan & Morgan case. However, given the company’s awareness of the legal situation regarding “Steamboat Willie,” it is assumed. With trademark law, the company generally has a better chance in court. Unlike copyright, trademark rights can be renewed repeatedly as long as the trademark remains in active use.
Disney still holds the copyright to later versions of Mickey Mouse as well as the corresponding trademark rights. Furthermore, the company changed its logo for the Walt Disney Animation Studios several years ago by using a clip from “Steamboat Willie.” As speculated by “The Hollywood Reporter,” this decision may have renewed the trademark rights to the old Mickey Mouse.